Meg's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Beautiful views, great hiking trails and outside adventure, photography.
146 locals recommend
Hatcher Pass
Beautiful views, great hiking trails and outside adventure, photography.
Matanuska Glacier
30820 West Glenn HighwayEasy daytrip
Food Scene
Unique local place. Good food, loads of local beers on tap, outdoor seating, concerts and more. *Pro tip, it gets busy especially on nice days. You can get take out and eat at the picnic tables or the lawn outside. There's a beer truck out there as well and you can still enjoy the music and lawn games.
79 locals recommend
Palmer City Alehouse
320 E Dahlia AveUnique local place. Good food, loads of local beers on tap, outdoor seating, concerts and more. *Pro tip, it gets busy especially on nice days. You can get take out and eat at the picnic tables or the lawn outside. There's a beer truck out there as well and you can still enjoy the music and lawn games.
Local place. Popular choice for breakfast. Get there early, there's often a wait.
37 locals recommend
The Noisy Goose
1890 Glenn HwyLocal place. Popular choice for breakfast. Get there early, there's often a wait.
This place is also known as the Trout House. Good local place for breakfast.
7 locals recommend
Windbreak Hotel, Cafe & Lounge
2201 E Parks HwyThis place is also known as the Trout House. Good local place for breakfast.
Beautiful lakeside dining. This establishment can be reached via kayak from Cottonwood Cottage through the canoe trail linking our local lakes.
They have a big large deck for outdoor dining and often live music.
This is a more expensive establishment for Alaska standards but the food is good and the atmosphere is great on beautiful clear days.
21 locals recommend
Everett's
1850 E Bogard RdBeautiful lakeside dining. This establishment can be reached via kayak from Cottonwood Cottage through the canoe trail linking our local lakes.
They have a big large deck for outdoor dining and often live music.
This is a more expensive establishment for Alaska standards but the food is good and the atmosphere is great on beautiful clear days.
Turkey Red
550 S Alaska StHealthy food that tastes good.
Local joint in old down town Wasilla. Good sandwiches, interesting building.
15 locals recommend
Krazy Moose Subs
405 E Herning AveLocal joint in old down town Wasilla. Good sandwiches, interesting building.
HeBrews Christian Café
490 S Knik-Goose Bay RdGood sandwiches, nice people. Eat in or take out.
Taco Cancun Mexican Grill
2101 Sun Mountain AvenueGood food. Taco Tuesday $1.99 tacos.
This is a more expensive choice but worth it. Food is always good. Located in old down town Wasilla in an old house, unique and quirky.
33 locals recommend
The Grape Tap
322 N Boundary StThis is a more expensive choice but worth it. Food is always good. Located in old down town Wasilla in an old house, unique and quirky.
This is a personal favorite. The hours are short and sometimes wonky but totally worth it. The salads are huge (I get 2 meals from one; I love the greek) and the sandwiches are really good. She sometimes has prime rib or lasagna dinners to take home. This is a takeout only place.
The Breadcrumb
3190 East Meridian Park LoopThis is a personal favorite. The hours are short and sometimes wonky but totally worth it. The salads are huge (I get 2 meals from one; I love the greek) and the sandwiches are really good. She sometimes has prime rib or lasagna dinners to take home. This is a takeout only place.
Great little hole in the wall place. Good burgers and good Chinese food (for Alaskan standards).
9 locals recommend
Burger Jim
8301 E Palmer-Wasilla HwyGreat little hole in the wall place. Good burgers and good Chinese food (for Alaskan standards).
Things To Do
Alaska State Fair Inc
2075 Glenn HwyHands on visits with the Reindeer! Plus check out the elk, horses, chickens, pig, llama, yak and moose!
101 locals recommend
Reindeer Farm
5561 Bodenburg LoopHands on visits with the Reindeer! Plus check out the elk, horses, chickens, pig, llama, yak and moose!
Visit a cool herd of Musk Ox and learn all about such unique creatures.
74 locals recommend
The Musk Ox Farm
12850 E Archie RdVisit a cool herd of Musk Ox and learn all about such unique creatures.
Funky little town with a cat for a mayor. Little shops and places to eat. Places to hike, flight seeing and wildlife.
This is a nice day trip from Cottonwood Cottage.
130 locals recommend
Talkeetna
Funky little town with a cat for a mayor. Little shops and places to eat. Places to hike, flight seeing and wildlife.
This is a nice day trip from Cottonwood Cottage.
The Palmer Folk School is a super cool opportunity to learn blacksmithing, foraging and other homespun types of learning. My family has taken the Rustic Sgian Dubh (Scottish boot knife) knife class and it was AWESOME! My teenage son would like to take all of the blacksmithing classes.
The knife classes need a good full day commitment but they do offer other classes, like the copper bracelet class that require less of a time commitment.
Jack, Laura and their adult son Dell all teach and help with the classes and they are so wonderfully welcoming and creative. This is a unique opportunity if you can add a class at the Palmer Folk School during your stay.
14108 E Outer Springer Loop, Palmer, AK 99645, USA
The Palmer Folk School is a super cool opportunity to learn blacksmithing, foraging and other homespun types of learning. My family has taken the Rustic Sgian Dubh (Scottish boot knife) knife class and it was AWESOME! My teenage son would like to take all of the blacksmithing classes.
The knife classes need a good full day commitment but they do offer other classes, like the copper bracelet class that require less of a time commitment.
Jack, Laura and their adult son Dell all teach and help with the classes and they are so wonderfully welcoming and creative. This is a unique opportunity if you can add a class at the Palmer Folk School during your stay.
Gift Shopping
Many Alaskan themed items. Good spot for gift shopping.
14 locals recommend
Poppy Lane Mercantile, LLC.
105 S Valley WayMany Alaskan themed items. Good spot for gift shopping.